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Global Champions League teams announced

Wednesday, 30 March 2016

Global Champions League 2016

The twelve teams for the inaugural Global Champions League (GCL) season have been announced today. The sport’s top riders will line up for the unique new team-based showjumping league, which kicks off on Sunday 10th April in Miami Beach, USA.

The competitions are played out in fifteen spectacular venues worldwide. Teams will have up to five riders, including a maximum of two top 30 ranked athletes for the 1.50m/1.55m GCL team competition. At least one rider will be under 25 years of age as GCL focuses on developing the young talent of the future. Two riders will be selected to compete at each event on the circuit, which follows the calendar of the Longines Global Champions Tour.

The new multi-national squads of riders will compete for a share of the GCL €7.5 million prize money.

The teams look like this:

Miami Glory

Scott Brash

Kent Farrington

Georgina Bloomberg

Kimberly Prince

Jessica Mendoza (U25)

Antwerp Diamonds

Harrie Smolders

Audrey Coulter (U25)

Katharina Offel

Marc Houtzager

Jos Verlooy (U25)

Madrid In Motion

Alvaro de Miranda

Athina Onassis de Miranda

Marta Ortega Perez

Pedro Veniss

Gonzalo Anon Suarez (U25)

Shanghai Swans

Edwina Tops-Alexander

Ben Maher

Jessica Springsteen (U25)

Janne Friederike Meyer

Alexandra Thornton (U25)

Cannes Stars

Roger-Yves Bost

Marco Kutscher

Roosje Brouwer

Kevin Jochems (U25)

Monaco Aces

Maikel van der Vleuten

Leopold van Asten

Daniel Bluman

Schuyler Riley

Lisa Nooren (U25)

Paris Jets

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson

Gregory Wathelet

Olivier Philippaerts (U25)

Nicola Philippaerts (U25)

Titouan Schumacher (U25)

Cascais Charms

Quentin Judge

David Will

Pilar Cordon Muro

Andreas Kreuzer

Philip Houston (U25)

Valkenswaard United

Bertram Allen (U25)

John Whitaker

Eduardo Menezes

Alberto Zorzi

Emily Moffitt (U25)

Rome Gladiators

Laura Kraut

Laura Renwick

Marlon Zanotelli

Jack Hardin Towell

Emma Heise (U25)

Vienna Eagles

Lauren Hough

Rodrigo Pessoa

Paris Sellon (U25)

Danielle Goldstein

Emanuel Andrade (U25)

Doha Fursan Qatar

Sheikh Ali Al Thani

Bassem Hassan Mohammed

Ali Al Rumaihi

Faleh Alajami

Hamad Al Attiyah (U25)

Jan Tops, Co-Founder of Global Champions League and Founder and President of Longines Global Champions Tour, said: “This is a key strategic step forward in the evolution of our sport. It will transform the experience for millions of fans around the world as they identify with the ups and downs of their favourite riders and horses."

“We will see some extraordinary battles opening up as the teams go through the GCL season and tactics and selection decisions become ever critical. We are pleased to continue in a pioneering spirit to safeguard the future of show jumping in the modern era and to always ensure top sport and the welfare of the horse.”

Frank H. McCourt, Jr. Co-Founder Global Champions League and Chairman and CEO of McCourt Global, said: “Against the backdrop of the world’s most exciting destinations, this innovative competition will take show jumping to unprecedented heights as it draws new fans, new athletes, and new sponsors from across the globe. Thanks to its unique format, the Global Champions League will provide riders with more opportunities to compete at the highest levels against the very best in the sport.

“It creates an unparalleled environment for the development of young riders and promising horses as they train and compete alongside the greatest names in show jumping. I have no doubt the Global Champions League will be the spark that ignites show jumping’s global growth and long-term success.”